Mucking machine



Jan. 12, A1937. w. A. WHITMIRE 2,067,879'

MUCKING MACHINE Filed Feb, 25, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 1 JNI/ENrDR.

Mucxma MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 2 H IW H y y J4 /5 /6' A /7\ .vlmllllllu VEN 17' DE.

Patented Jan. 12, 1937 unirse stares This invention, a mucking machine, is particularly adapted to mucking operations in confined areas, such as small tunnels, drifts and excavations, due to the extremely y'compact arrangement 5 and method of operation'. However, this machine can be built in any desired size for operation under any conditions, ,although its .prime advantage lies inits compactness for operation in restricted or.confinedlocations.Y 4

l This invention is an. improvement .overmy co.-

pending application, Serial Number 53,466Vlerd December 9, 1935 and which application is` di rected to the specic combination illustrated and described, while this application is Vparticularly l directed to the particular. type and arrangement of dipper and dipper sticks, together with conveyor arrangement and the new'results obtained thereby.

To produce a unit which can be conveniently and successfully operated in very narrow tunnels or drifts. all transverse spacemust be rigidly conserved to provide a space for the operator at a point where the operator can properly guide the dipper and watch the results of his operations.

YIt is for this reason that this improvement is advanced, since itY conserves space and provides a location at the operating lend of the machine for the operator, and provides room under 'the conveyor for all of the operating mechanism,

while also leveling out the conveyor which `vcarries themuck away as dumped 'from `the dipper.

The objects of the invention areas follows:

First; to provide a dipper and 'dipper-stick arrangement which positively1 inverts the 'dipper during raising thereof.

Second; to provide a dipper-stick arrangement which is adjustable vat will to effect predetermined degrees of vinversion `of the dipper for a predetermined angular lift, whereby an inversion of 'greater than ninety degrees may be obtained with an angular lift of less than Aninety degrees.

Third; to provide an assemblage of dipper sticks as outlined, which assemblage is of minlmum transverse cross-section for conservation of space for an operators location within complete observation of all operations of the dipper.

Fourth; to provide an automatic latching device for the dipper cover, to automatically release the cover at the terminal of lift, and automatically lock the cover as the dipper is lowered.

Fifth; to elevate the tail pulley of the conveyor to the highest level at which the dipper can dump directly thereon, so as to dispense with a hopper or a chute, reduce the inclination of the conveyor, prevent 'accurnuIatiOn of muck, and provide a-mple .space under the conve-yor for all mechanism. and driving devices.

Other obfjects and advantages of the invention .will become apparent as the following description 5 A,is readon the drawings forming a part of .this

specification, in which similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout, 4the several views', of which;

, Fig. lis a sectional plan view of the invention '10 taken on line -I--I of Fig. '2, the rear portion of the machine beingornitted.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of ythe invention.

Fig. 3 is 'a'.nenlarged plan viewof 'the dipper and dipper-stick larrangement.

Fig. 4 is -a side elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5*.'is asection taken on line 5-.5 of Fig. 4.

Figy isa front view of the clipper.y

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the dipper showing the automatic dipper-cover latch. 20 The dipper indicated in its entirety as IU is open at the front 'I and has a cover rI2 which is hinged near the forward end of the top as shown at I3, whereby, as the 'dipper is inverted, the cover will'swing open, and close again when low- 25 ered, through gravitational influence.'

The dipper alsoV has side walls I4 and I5, back wall I6, bottom I'I terminating at its forward end in rakes orfteeth i8, and .also has a top crossstrut :I 9 to tie the front end of the sides together 3U and ,form a rigid structure.

vA Vbail.`2l\ is pivoted to the respectiveside walls vIll and I`5 as shown at -2I,4 and a lifting cable 22 is attachedgto the bail 2'0 by'a'ny' known means.

The dipper stick is of a new rand unusual arrangement, 'consisting of two pairs of links arranged in crossed and intervening relation, the sticks or "links 2 3 and 24 of one pair being in angular orcrossing. relation .to theother pair 25 and 26, which pair 25.4-:2I'isy located between the 40 links V3 and 24.

Allfour links 2'3 to "26 have their respective ends pivotally attached to the rear Wall of the dipper through brackets 2'I and 28, as shown at 29 and 30; and to the crowd head 3I, as shown at 45 32 and 33, the vertical distance between pivots 29 and 30 being fixed, while the vertical distance between pivots 32 and 33 is made adjustable by provision of spaced-apart holes 34, 35 and 36, whereby the relative inversion of the dipper may be 50 varied at will. The greater the distance between these pivot points, the greater the angle of inversion or tipping as related to the angular lift of the dipper stick.

When the pivot spacing at both ends of the 55 links is equal, the inversion angleis double that of the angular lift, therefore an angular lift of will rotate the dipper through 140. With increased spacing at the crowd end, the inversion of the dipper would be correspondingly increased for the same angular lift.

The dipper is shown dotted in three additional positions in Fig. 2, and as will be noted, as the dipper is raised from position 31 to position 38. the dipper is tipped back, causing the teeth I8 to advance upwardly into the material instead of drag, as is usually the case, and further, causes the muck to settle back into the dipper, permitting the dipper to be completely -filled, which does not occur with the usual type of dipper arrangement.

As the dipper reaches the position 40, it has been inverted, or rotated vthrough an angle of about However, the degree ofy inversion may be varied by adjusting the pivots 32-33. If brought closer together, the degree of inversion will be less, while if the pivots' are adjusted farther apart, the inversion will 'be increased.

The purpose of this adjustment is two-fold. First, the degree of inversion maybe adjusted according to the angle of repose of ,the muck; and second, where there is lack of head room. as in low tunnels, the entire structure `for dumping may be built lower, either by adjustment, of by structural arrangement, and the dipper can be made'to tip through 135`for a 45 lift of the dipper stick. Thus the dipper could be caused to dump in the position shown at 4I.

The crowd head 3| is Xed on, or integral with, the head end of the crowd 42,l which slidably operates between the ways 43, and any suitable operating means, such as compressed air, steam, or, as shown, a motor 44, driving through suitable reduction gearing l45, may be used to force the crowd and dipper, and retract the same, the

crowd having teeth 46 with which the gearing cooperates.

The ways 43 are mounted in a frame 41 which is supported on a carriage frame 48 to which it is pivotally secured as at 49, this,v carriage frame being mounted on wheels 5I). I

A superstructure 5I of suitable form and strength supports the conveyor 52 and its driving means, such as a motor 53, asalso the winch or tugger 54 for the dipper cable 22. The tugger driving means 55 maybe located as shown, or may be located under the conveyor, if desired.

The latching means for the cover I2 consists of a latch 56 which is intermediately pivoted at 51 to the side wall I4 or I5, and counterweighted as indicated at 5B, the latch engaging over the rear edge of the cover I2 or over an integral, transversely extending lug 59, and having an engaging face 6I) and a release head 6I for auto-- matic release of the latch.

The release head 6I cooperates with the tail apron 62, or with the superstructure .5I.,at the terminal of lift of the dipper, releasing the cover I2 and depositing the muck on the conveyor 52, the muck being thereby conveyed to a dump car (not shown) back of the mucking machine.

As will be noted, the specific, transversely compact arrangement of frame or superstructure, conveyor, and dipper stick, provides ample space at one side for an operators seat 63 and necessary control levers 64, in a position for accurate control of the operation of the dipper.

This arrangement of dipper stick also provides extreme rigidity for positive and direct rectilinear action of the dipper.

It will be understood that variations in construction and arrangement of parts, which variations are consistent with the appended claims, may be resorted to without detracting from the Aspirit or Vscope of the invention, or sacricing any ofthe advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In a mucking machine, a dipper and rectilinear crowding means therefor, and a multiple element dipper stick pivotally cooperating between said dipper and said crowding means, predetermined elements acting in opposition to the other elements causing inversion of the dipper as the 'dipper is raised, a hinged cover for said dipper and automatic'latching and unlatching means therefor operating gravitationally for latching and by cooperation with a conveyor l? 'frame for unlatching only when the dipper is in inverted position, and a conveyor receiving material from' said dipper directly without intervening hopper.

2. In a mucking machine, a dipper having a back provided with an upper and a lower pivot bearing, a rectilinearly acting crowd having a head provided with an upper and a series of lower spaced apart pivot bearings, and a dipper stick consisting of links connecting said bearings in a back provided with a plurality of spaced apart horizontal pivot apertures in vertical alignment, links pivotally connecting through said apertures between said head and said dipper in crossing relation, a hinged cover for said dipper opened and closed during operation through gravital tional inuence, and a latch latching said cover upon closing and released through cooperation with said frame during the final inverting movement of said dipper as the dipper is raised to dumping position, and means for raising said dipper. Y

WILLIAM A. WHITMIRE. 

